Earphone Wearing Detection via Functional Pin Voltage Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio headsets require manual intervention to manage playback and communication functions when worn or removed, leading to unnecessary power consumption and potential missed content due to lack of automatic control based on wearing status.

Innovation Solution

A headset with a sensor circuit and logic control circuit that detects wearing status and outputs trigger signals to control voltage on functional pins, allowing the terminal to perform corresponding operations such as playing, pausing, or answering calls automatically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual operation is required to pause or terminate playback when headset is removed, then user can control playback, but unnecessary power consumption occurs and content may be missed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic control based on wearing statusVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The headset system automatically detects wearing status through sensor circuits and autonomously controls playback without requiring user intervention. The logic control circuit processes sensor signals to determine whether the headset is worn, and automatically issues corresponding instructions to the terminal device, enabling the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor circuit continuously monitors the wearing status and provides feedback signals to the logic control circuit. Based on this real-time feedback, the system dynamically adjusts playback state - pausing when removed and resuming when worn - creating a closed-loop control system that responds to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If manual operation is required to resume playback when headset is worn again, then user can control playback, but convenience is reduced and content reception may be incomplete

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic resumption of playbackVSAvoidtime to manually resume content
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares for resumption by maintaining the capability to detect wearing status at all times through the sensor circuit. When the headset is detected as being worn again, the system is already positioned to immediately resume playback without requiring user initiation, thus performing the resumption action preliminarily and automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The automatic detection and resumption mechanism allows the system to manage its own playback state based on wearing status, eliminating the need for manual user intervention to resume content, thereby saving time and improving convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Extent of automation

If sensor circuit and logic control circuit are added to detect wearing status, then automatic control is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic detection and control of wearing statusVSAvoidcircuit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor circuit serves multiple functions: detecting whether the headset is worn, determining wearing status, and providing signals for automatic control decisions. By making the sensor circuit multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing complexity while achieving automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The logic control circuit integrates the functions of processing sensor signals, determining wearing status, and generating control instructions into a single unified component. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall circuit structure while maintaining automatic detection and control capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3588248B1Earphones and terminal
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3588248B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3588248B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3588248B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A headset, a terminal, and a control method are provided. The headset includes a connector of the headset configured to connect to a terminal, the connector of the headset includes at least one functional pin, and the headset further includes a sensor circuit and a logic control circuit. The sensor circuit is connected to a functional pin of the connector of the headset by using the logic control circuit. The sensor circuit is configured to: sense a wearing status of the headset, and output a trigger signal to the logic control circuit when the wearing status changes. The logic control circuit is configured to change, based on the trigger signal, a voltage value on the functional pin connected to the logic control circuit, to trigger the terminal to perform a target operation event based on a changed voltage value on the functional pin, where the target operation event is preset for the voltage value on the functional pin. A sensor may be added to the headset, and sensor information may be fed back to the terminal, to implement various new functions and improve user experience.